Duruthu Full Moon Poya 2026
What this means for your trip
Alcohol ban island-wide — bars, wine stores, and supermarket alcohol sections closed. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara near Colombo holds its annual Duruthu Perahera, one of the country's oldest processions. Some restaurants close or go alcohol-free.
Why Poya dates are transcribed, not calculated
A Poya day is whichever calendar day the Government Gazette declares, and that is not a pure function of the full-moon instant. In 2026 the full moon of 3 January was gazetted as 3 January, while the full moon of 3 March was gazetted as 2 March. Any rule of the form “full moon date, minus one if it falls before a given hour” fits a single year and then quietly breaks. Every date on OneCeylon comes from the gazette and is cross-checked against a computed full moon to catch transcription errors.
Common questions
When is Duruthu Full Moon Poya in 2026?
Duruthu Full Moon Poya falls on Saturday 3 January 2026 in Sri Lanka. This date is taken from the Government Gazette.
What is closed on Duruthu Full Moon Poya?
Alcohol ban island-wide — bars, wine stores, and supermarket alcohol sections closed. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara near Colombo holds its annual Duruthu Perahera, one of the country's oldest processions. Some restaurants close or go alcohol-free.